It was a slightly sunny, murky day in a bleak village known as Kirigakure. The Village Hidden in the Mist. The Village known for its ruthless, crafty, and merciless ninja output. So with that description, it's highly unlikely to find a shinobi in training from one of their strongest clans, playing with and picking wildflower by the riverside. Unless it was for poison. Sadly in the this boy's case, it wasn't.
He sat on his knees with a pale mop on hair on his head. He cared not for brutality, so much so to where his teachers and relatives called him pacifistic. They spoke it like it was a curse, and it scared him. Was it so bad to dislike fighting? The sounds of the running water brought him serenity, and the wildflowers reminded him of his mother.
He was so enraptured by the peace, he heard not the heavy, angry footsteps coming towards him.
Nothing could have prepared him for the slap.
!
The boys head whipped foward from the blow.
"WHAT HAVE I TOLD YOU ABOUT PICKING FLOWERS?"
The boy spoke not.
"I'VE ADMINISTERED SO MANY TREATMENTS FOR YOUR SOFT NATURE! YOU ARE A DEFECT. YOU ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO COME FROM A PRESTIGIOUS CLAN SUCH AS THE HOZŪKI AND YOU-"
He paused to take a breath.
"You are the dirt under my feet. I know you as no son. Your softness has driven me this far and I swear, I swear I swear if you do not change and bring honor to the Hozūki name, you will die by my hand."
The man known as Hozūki Rikigetsu stalked away from his only son.
The young boy, Kenjetsu, wept as he listened to the river. Wildflowers scattered in the grass. He wondered if he would ever work right. He wished he was like all his cousins who glorified the bloodshed for their country. He wished his father loved him. He wishes his mother was there. With bangs hanging low on his face, he decided what he would do.
•|| ||•
Over twenty years later and he still couldn't believe what he did in his life. His father's words cut him deep on that day and instilled fear in him. His message had been clear—fight or die. So Kenjetsu numbed himself and made himself known as one of the most skilled Hozūki to date.
Even if his father never called Kenjetsu his son after the incident, you could still see the surprised gleam in his eyes when the Hozūki heir rose to the rank of jonin at age 16.
Hozūki Rikigetsu fell ill shortly after his son's eighteenth birthday and died three months later.
Kenjetsu rose to take his title as clan head, and efficiently led the independent Hozūki Clan. A handfull knew him as the gentle giant.
At the age of twenty six he went through with the suggestion of marrying one of his distant cousins, Tsuname. A year later she became pregnant. They were gifted with a little boy, bestowed with the name of Mangetsu, Full Moon. The boy had his father's calm nature, and care for all things. Three years passed and Tsuname fell pregnant again.
Nine months later here they were, in an all white hospital room, tense atmosphere surrounding them all.
There were about four med-nin nurses in the room, flittering about his wife. Kenjetsu grabbed his wife's hand to remind her of his presence. "Tsuname? How are you?" She squeezed his hand as another contraction came and went. A labored breath escaped her trembling form, "This is as good as it gets right?" As if she knew something he didn't.
"We can see the head!"
"She's loosing too much blood!"
Kenjetsu finally noticed the sweat dripping down her face, and hair stuck to her forehead, and the feeling of dread that settled in the room.
He squeezed her hand again, worry crossing his features briefly.
"Congratulations, Hozūki-sama. It's a boy."
A wailing bundle of cloths was sat in his arms. Just as he was moving the baby to his wife's field of vision, panicked voices broke his focus.
"Why is she still contracting?"
"There's another!"
"Twins, Hozūki-sama!"
"The heads already in view. It won't be long. Her chance of survival is low."
Kenjetsu's breathing picked up. He looked down at his wife again, his breath caught in his throat, she looked like she fought all the Hidden Villages and then some, but she was still pushing. But he couldn't lose her. She had been his rock over the years, his emotional tether, his sun after every cloudy day.
He looked down at the little bundle that had calmed, as if sensing his emotions.
"And here we have a girl Hozūki-sama."
Another bundle was placed in his arms.
"Tsuname, dear wife, look."
She opened her eyes again and rested them on her newborns. Then she looked at her husband and smiled, her eyes closed. A frown appeared on Kenjetsu's face as he prepared himself for what was about to happen.
"We're loosing her."
"She's not responding."
"Hozūki-sama, we apologize, there was nothing we could do."
His chest seized.
He said nothing.
How would he tell Mangetsu.
He looked down at his parting gifts from her. The little children were crooning.
Why did they look just like their mother?
•|| ||•
Kenjetsu solemnly looked upon the door to his family's house. He pushed it open with his shoulder, careful not to wake his newborns.
His eyes swiveled around the room that used to feel so homey, but knowing his wife would never step foot in here again, it suddenly felt so barren. Walking towards the cushion on the floor, he called for his only son.
"Man-kun!"
Kenjetsu heard his muffled reply and smiled. Mangetsu stumbled his way into the room, and walked towards the cushion where his father and new siblings were stationed, a giddy smile on his face.
"Where's Kaa-chan, Dad?"
A sad smile came to the father's features as he looked upon the sleeping twins. The thought of lying to his son came to mind. He dismissed it as soon as it came. He couldn't, and he wouldn't.
"Their chakras were so similar, the med-nin didn't even know there were two, Man-kun. Kaa-chan lost too much blood and-" his voice cracked, he had to be strong for his son. "She's gone Man-kun, I'm so sorry."
A little hand came up to wipe the tears he didn't even know were there.
He looked into his son's pale purple eyes, and Kenjetsu suddenly knew what to say.
"She might be gone, but she's still here."
Mangetsu's brows furrowed in confusion.
"Where, Dad?"
Kenjetsu touched his sons heart,"In here, she'll always be in your heart, she'll always protect you."
Mangetsu looked down at the now awake babies. He mussed with the girl's little wisps of hair,"Rangetsu, Orchid Moon, because you and Kaa-chan loved to pick wildflowers." The boy then touched the second twin's cheek, memories of his mother sitting with him at the riverside, showing him the moon's reflection, flooded his psyche, "Suigetsu, Water Moon, Kaa-chan loved the moon's reflection on the river."
Mangetsu looked up at his father, and in the corner he swore he saw his mother, tiredly smiling at him, and she looked content. The boy wept.
•|| ||•
3 years later..
Upon further inspection, Mangetsu and his father found that Rangetsu had something that made her.. different from most girls.
They loved her all the same and assured her she was no different than anyone else.
It was a murky day that was considered nice in Kiri, and Mangetsu was outside twirling around a bo staff, doing Kenjutsu katas he had known since he was his siblings age.
And speak of the devil, here they came.
"Oi, Aniki, you didn't tell us you were training!" That was Suigetsu, a sour look on his face.
"But it's not too late Sui-kun," and surely enough Rangetsu by his side, she gave him a slight shove, a devious snaggletoothed grin alight on her face, "We can still get him!"
Suigetsu nodded with renewed vigor, and pointed at the oldest of the three. "OI, PREPARE FOR OUR WRATH ANIKI!"
Mangetsu smiled as he felt a weight hit his legs, making him stumble back, soon after Suigetsu himself lunged at his face. Falling to the ground after his attack was deflected with Mangetsu's staff, he listened for his sister.
"Sui-kun! Get his staff!"
•|| ||•
Zabuza Momochi wasn't one for niceties, but when he got wind that the Gentle Giant of Kiri, Hozūki Kenjetsu's wife had died, something drew him to the Clan Head's residence.
It was hard getting past what Hozūki were left, after so many had been killed off. None of them wore the Kiri hitai-ate, and he couldn't find a reason to be angry. They were tools whose owner broke them.
He finally convinced them that the Head had summoned him to converse about new weapons oils.
The Demon of the Mist rapped on the door three times, and awaited the Gentle Giant.
A slightly tan face, with pale purple eyes, and a little stubble on his cheeks was that of Hozūki Kenjetsu. Zabuza let himself in, and looked around the moderately sized house.
"You tie your bangs back these days?" He said gruffly. Kenjetsu only hummed as he looked upon the man's hulky, but lean form. He had an air of mystery around him that called to some part of the Clan Head.
"I heard your wife died." He said it as if he was looking for something.
"You're correct, the med-nin didn't even know she was having twins. This damned village needs a better medical program." Kenjetsu said bitterly.
Zabuza's eyes settled on him, something indiscernible floating around in them. "So where are the brats?" He asked gruffly. The Clan Head only made a notion with his hand that told Zabuza to follow him.
He lead the Demon of the Mist to a sliding glass door panel that led to an outdoor area that was clearly for training. There were plants lining the edges of the perimeter with a creek on the right side. There were rocks big and small with the area being mostly grass.
The two important figures stood shoulder to shoulder as they looked upon the peculiar scene through the glass.
Mangetsu was being given a run for his money as his two siblings were each hanging on to either sides of his bo staff. He was clearly using chakra to enhance his limbs and muscles because he was swinging the two around, each twin having a giddy grin on their faces.
"Aw come on Aniki what's wrong?" Rangetsu said teasingly.
"Yeah are you too weak to get us off?" Suigetsu said as he laughed.
Rangetsu went as far as to swing off the staff, onto her older brother's shoulders. She giggled, making weird excited sounds.
Zabuza took that as his cue to make his presence known. He slid the glass door open and stepped outside, fresh albeit misty air entered his nostrils.
The kids' reaction was almost instantaneous. Mangetsu tried to hide a gasp, Rangetsu narrowed her eyes and started sniffing the air, Suigetsu went still and almost looked as if he was awaiting the unknown figure's next move.
Kenjetsu followed behind his old friend into the training area, and leaned on one of the bigger rocks, awaiting the next sequence of events with a small smile on his face.
Mangetsu spoke first, but Suigetsu moved first.
"Momochi-san?" He asked, eyes alight with curiosity and adoration.
Suigetsu dropped down off the staff, and with a hint of hesitation he walked up to the man, looked up to him, then back at Rangetsu and furrowed his brow, asking a silent question: Who's this?
Rangetsu slid off of Mangetsu's shoulders and walked a hesitant circle around the man, still sniffing the air. "Suigetsu I recognize this smell. All the other kids have two parents! What if this is our Kaa-chan!?" The girl was now smiling wildly at her twin brother, and looked at Mangetsu, eyes alight. She looked up at the man in wonder and slight adoration, ignoring his constipated expression.
"Imoto, Kaa-chan was a woman." He said with a blank undertone.
"Then our Tou-chan, Aniki?" Asked Suigetsu. After only getting a gargly sound from his brother, he turned to the man, and with a slightly shy tone no one had heard from him he asked,
"Tou-chan?"
Rangetsu raised her arms to him with the silent expectation of being picked up.
•|| ||•
Kenjetsu's eyes were wide.
His children were imprinting on someone important from his past, whom he was feeling weird things for.
Well scratch that, his youngest children had imprinted on Zabuza. Poor Mangetsu was confused out of his mind, but thankfully for his siblings sake he was going along with it.
The twins grew up without a mother, simply knowing she was gone. Mangetsu understood what was better for his siblings.
Kenjetsu used to have a.. slightly troubled relationship with Momochi Zabuza. When they were younger, they bonded over taking missions together as chuunin, and.. they experimented per se. They might have became something more if the Hozūki could get over Zabuza's talk of everyone being tools.
"Everyone is a tool. We're tools of our village like the village is a tool to the daimyo. You're just a tool that was broken, but still works."
Maybe Kenjetsu overreacted when he broke down silently and wept, and proceeded to stalk away from the young swordsman, but the words just reminded him too much of his father. He was sixteen at the time. Zabuza knew no better, but it still hurt.
And now the Demon of the Mist had waltzed back into his life and had his children imprinting on him.
It wasn't fair.
He just wanted to be a good father.
Which was why when his daughter outstretched her arms to the Swordsman, and Zabuza looked back at Kenjetsu for approval, he nodded and watched as the man that had a slight grasp on his heart in the past, held his daughter. Very awkwardly might he add.
•|| ||•
It was hard for Momochi Zabuza to make emotional ties. In his life he was only aware of one. The slight affection he had for Hozūki Kenjetsu. It spanned from his appreciation of the broken tool, then that developed into his desire to fix the broken tool.
When he tried to make this known to his tool, he cried and left. If only he had let him finish.
He let his tool have time, and now he was back, to fix him, and protect him.
Zabuza knew he'd probably have to deal with his tool's offspring, but never did he expected to have them think he was their... other father?
But as he looked down upon the three children, something pulled at his heartstrings, making his face contort into some expression of constipation.
For once in his life the Demon of the Mist wasn't sure what to do.
As he looked back at the oldest Hozūki who seemed worse for wear, instead of telling him to get away from his child, or to leave, he hesitantly nodded his head in approval.
Zabuza hooked his thumbs under the little girl's underarms and slowly tucker her into his side, coming eye to eye with her.
Her purple eyes held more of a pinker tint than her father, and held a gleam that promised mischief. A pale bang swept just above her small nose, the rest were shorter and were content to rest at the girl's forehead. A little fang peeked out of her grin.
She grabbed his cheeks and Zabuza flinched back and narrowed his eyes at the child.
"Tou-chan has brown eyes! I've never seen brown eyes before! Look Suigetsu! Aniki!" The excitement and wonder in her voice stopped him from dropping her.
"Hey! I wanna see!" He looked down and saw another brat stretching his arms out. Zabuza huffed, and complied with his silent request.
"See Suigetsu!?" She asked, her gaze flicking from Zabuza's eyes to her brother. The two kids were almost carbon copies of each other in looks, noted Zabuza, they could easily confuse an enemy. The only difference was the boy lacked the one long bang his sister had, her eyes were more feminine, as was her facial structure.
"A kid in my class has brown eyes you guys, they aren't that amazing." The oldest brat said, a smirk on his face. He gave an unimpressed look to somewhere past Zabuza, probably towards his father, he thought.
"Oi, Aniki, don't ruin the fun." Said the younger boy in his right arm,a slight pout on his face.
The girl leaned over and put her hand next her mouth as if she was going to tell Zabuza a secret.
"Aniki does that a lot, Tou-chan." She whispered it loud enough for the boy in question to hear, resulting in a "Hey!" Making both of the twins snicker.
"What're you brats' names?" Zabuza asked gruffly, speaking for the first time since he walked outside.
"I'm Rangetsu, Tou-chan!"
"And I'm Suigetsu!"
"My names Mangetsu."
The boy now known as Mangetsu took a look at the bunch, not missing his father looking rather exasperated, and cleared his throat.
"Guys, Tou-chan, is the Demon of the Mist, Zabuza Momochi, and is also one of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist. You could at least be more respectful." Snorted Mangetsu.
"The Seven Swordsmen!?" The twins shrieked in unison, their father had told them stories of the noble Seven Swordsman.
"What sword do you wield Tou-chan?!" Suigetsu asked in an urgent tone.
"Kubikiribōcho. I don't know how your sister missed it after she walked a circle around me." Grunted Zabuza, earning him a "Hey!" From the girl in question.
"Momochi-sempai could you please show us Kubikiribōcho?" Mangetsu asked pleadingly.
Zabuza looked at the boy and decided he looked too much like his father to deny, so he dropped the two twins that had had enough time in his arms.
"Ouch!"
"Hey!"
The Swordsman reached over his shoulder, and grasped the hilt of his constant companion and pulled it from his back, deliberately slowly, let it slightly gleam in the sun, smirking as he watched the kids' jaws drop, and swung it fast enough to make them jump and squeal.
Zabuza then stood it up in the dirt and watched as Suigetsu climbed through the hole, and Rangetsu made the semicircle into a seat. Mangetsu was content to try and reach the greatsword's hilt.
"Tou-chan's soooo cool you guys!" Gushed Rangetsu.
"One day this'll be my sword, cuz I'll be one of the Seven Swordsmen!" whispered Suigetsu.
"Well I'm gonna master all the swords!" Exclaimed Mangetsu.
Zabuza simply hmph'd in pride, and walked towards his tool.
•|| ||•
His children were too energetic. Kenjetsu didn't know where they got it from, but they had almost endless reserves of energy. Mangetsu was calmer, but Kenjetsu guesses the sibling energy is contagious because even he has his bouts.
So no it wasn't surprising that the children wouldn't be the slightest bit put off after Zabuza almost cleaved them. He had still hoped that all their admiration of the man would be gone so it would be easier to push him away.
And as Zabuza languidly walked over to where the Hozūki was, some part of him began to fidget, being slightly uncomfortable under the Swordsman's unwavering gaze.
Now Zabuza stood in front of him, most likely wanting to meet his eyes, because he communicated better that way, Kenjetsu knew from experience, but he wouldn't allow it. The Hozūki could hear his breathing become harder the more time passed, he was probably getting frustrated. Finally he spoke,
"Kenjetsu,"
The man in question winced at the emotional undertone in his voice,
"Stand."
Zabuza's tone left no room for argument, the Hozūki rose to his feet, the tension between the two palpable.
Soon enough, Kenjetsu felt strong, warmer-clad arms slide around his shoulders, and a chin rest on his head.
Of course the man couldn't just ask for a hug, he thought as he returned the embrace, Zabuza was too intense for his own good.
An arm left his shoulder as a hand came and swept across his stubble-covered cheek once or twice, then a hand ran through his hair, releasing it from its confines. Then the Swordsman nuzzled his face into his shoulder, making some sort of content sound in his throat.
In his quiet language, he was saying 'I missed you.'
Kenjetsu simply sighed into the taller man's chest, and wondered what time would bring.
•|| ||•
Zabuza dropped by the Clan Head's residence very frequently each day. Unfortunately for him, the oldest Hozūki wouldn't let him escape the fatherly duties he bestowed upon himself. So each time the Swordsman spent the night, he mentored Mangetsu, and prepared the twins for the academy, going as far as to teach them E-rank jutsu, and sneaking a practice wood sword for Mangetsu to train with. Zabuza helped feed the twins, sat with Kenjetsu when he read them books, bathe the twins, disciplined them, and put them to sleep.
All in all he was their second father.
At the end of many days, Zabuza would let them tire themselves out, and when they refused to go to sleep, he'd grab the backs of their shirts, and put them to bed. Then he'd go to what had become him and Kenjetsu's room, move the man from his side of the bed, and sleep.
Years passed, and the twins were five, Mangetsu eight, and it was time for them to start the Academy.
•||~ ~||•
"I'm so excited!" Exclaimed Suigetsu. The family was walking towards the Supreme District, where the Academy and Mizukage tower was located. Mangetsu was walking on Kenjetsu's right, Suigetsu on his left. Zabuza was in the middle, with Rangetsu holding his hand to his right.
"Wel I'm not." Rangetsu was looking rather glum, a frown on her face. Her and Suigetsu were clad in nearly the same outfit, a sleeveless light purple turtleneck—Rangetsu's had a semicircle towards the top of her chest, slightly tight gray pants that were bandaged below the knee, and black Mist sandals.
Suigetsu had more pep in his step than his twin. "Don't be so glum, Iomoto," tutted Mangetsu, "it's not that bad, you get to train!" He said, trying to cheer up his younger sister, but only earning a "Yeah!" from Suigetsu and a sigh from Rangetsu.
"I promise it's not as bad as you think, Ran-chan." Said Kenjetsu, trying to console his daughter. A little whimper escaped her throat as they arrived and she saw all the kids. Zabuza ran a thumb over her knuckles, calming her nerves some. Kids were looking her way, mouths agape as some envied her for being so close to a Swordsman.
Someone cleared their throat, "Excuse me everyone," it was Yagura, the Mizukage, Anbu at his side, earning murmurs from the crowd,"I am honored to be welcoming our new generation into the next chapter of their lives," he looked around the crowd,"they will be categorized by their specialties, and made into strong ninja of their nation, I thank you all for being here, you should be proud." He finished, a light applause breaking out as he stepped of the podium he was on.
The door to the big grey building, the Academy, opened up and two teachers started shepherding all of the kids in.
Then all the warmth left Rangetsu's hand, her Tou-chan had let it go. Her frown deepened as her Father moved Suigetsu next to her, and Mangetsu behind the two, and Zabuza slowly bent down to their eye level.
She heard a camera click.
Her Tou-chan met all of their eyes meaningfully, saying things he wouldn't say out loud. He ruffled their hair one by one, and when it was her turn, she tried to hold his hand there. Zabuza slid his hand out of her grasp, and patted her cheek. He stood up, and motioned towards the Academy.
"Take them in Mangetsu." The Swordsman grumbled. The boy did an over exaggerated salute, muttering a chipper "Can do," put his arms around his siblings shoulders, and ushered them off.
When the trio disappeared into the door, the Demon of the Mist did an about-face, and bumped shoulders with the oldest Hozūki, muttering a rather moody, "let's go."
As they were walking home, Kenjetsu finally seemed as if the events that had transpired caught up to him,
"They're growing up now," he said, voice full of nostalgia.
Zabuza grumbled something akin to a "yeah."
Kenjetsu chuckled a breathy chuckle and sighed, Zabuza would be moody the rest of the day.
•||~ ~||•
FIN!
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